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Officials hope river ferry back in action soon

Ferry has been out of service for more than a month for inspections, repairs

The St. Johns River Ferry, closed for more than a month for inspections and maintenance, could be back in service in a matter of days.

City Councilman John Crescimbeni, chairman of the St. Johns River Ferry Commission, said the commission was not ready to announce a specific opening date but that he’s looking for it to be back “soon.”

Debbie Delgado, a city spokeswoman, said officials hope the ferry will be back in operation by the weekend.

The commission has a special meeting Thursday afternoon to discuss the ferry’s return to service, and a formal announcement is expected Friday.

The ferry, which runs between Mayport and Heckscher Drive, has been dry-docked since Dec. 1 for periodic inspection by the U.S. Coast Guard and maintenance.

The closure has lasted longer than officials expected.

“We’ll be back in the water absolutely as soon as we can,” Crescimbeni said. “This is all about keeping the vessel safe.”

About $926,000 in repairs and maintenance on the vessel have been done at BAE Systems Southeast Shipyard on Heckscher Drive. The work includes re-painting, replacements and repairs to numerous parts and features, like fire-safety systems.

Passengers can visit the city’s website at www.coj.net to download the JaxFerry App for mobile devices and stay updated on news about the ferry at www.stjohnsriverferry.com.